A MAN who used a fake modelling scam to lure two teenage girls to his home has been spared jail after a court heard he just wanted to make friends.

Jake Barnett, 20, pleaded guilty to child abduction but insisted there was no sexual motive to his ploy.

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Preston Crown Court heard Barnett, who has learning difficulties, set up a Facebook profile using a false name and advertised for teen models.

Using pictures from other modelling sites, he set up the page TeenQueen UK and claimed to be a woman called Lauren Barnes, acting as an ambassador for the agency.

Jane Dagnell, prosecuting, said the page was similar in design to other teen modelling sites and appeared to be offering modelling careers to young girls.

Barnett, of Moorgate Gardens, Blackburn, struck up conversation with a two 13-year-old girls and asked them to send photos of their hair, before inviting them to a photoshoot at Ewood Park Football Club.

However when the girls arrived it was clear there was no shoot and they rang the ‘agency’ only to be diverted to Barnett’s home.

At the house, Barnett locked the front door and took photos of the girls on his iPad.

He also offered to plait their hair.

Miss Dagnell said: “Both mums became concerned something was amiss, and told the girls to get out.

“They were away from their parents for at least 20 minutes in a locked house.”

The girls returned to the car and their parents contacted police.

Barnes admitted setting up the page on Facebook and told officers he wanted more friends.

He said he knew it was wrong, but insisted there was nothing sexual about his behaviour.

He pleaded guilty to child abduction.

The court heard Barnett does not have a formal diagnosis but is likely to have Aspergers.

Judge Robert Altham handed him an 18 month sentence suspended for two years and made a 50 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He also made a restraining order restricting Barnett’s activity on Facebook.